BY DENZIL PINTO
DOHA: Liverpool legend John Barnes believes racism will only be kicked out of football if people are educated on the issue from a young age.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula at the Aspire Dome, where the Aspire4Sport Congress is taking place, the 49-year-old said the issue starts from the ‘roots’ of life, not in football.
He said: “Racism is a big issue in life and society. It must start from the roots that racism is unacceptable, rather than saying things have to be done in football to eliminate the issue.”
“Unless that is corrected, we won’t be able to get rid of racism in football,” he added.
The game had recently been marred with Chelsea captain John Terry receiving a four-match ban for allegedely abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand racially in an English Premier League (EPL) match last season.
Terry was found not guilty and retired from England duty.
In a separate case last month, Chelsea complained to the FA that referee Mark Clattenburg racially abused a player during an EPL match against Manchester United. The case is expected to conclude by tomorrow, according to reports. The British police have already dropped their investigation against Clattenburg.
The former England midfielder, who had a banana thrown at him when playing for Liverpool during an English FA Cup match in 1988 said that it is not fair to blame FIFA in their efforts to kick out racism, just because the organisation is the world’s governing body.
“FIFA can ban a player for ten years, but it won’t do anything in getting rid of racism,” Barnes said.
“Football can do nothing about getting rid of racism completely. That will only come through education,” stressed Barnes.
The former Liverpool player who also had stints with Newcastle (1997-1999) and Charlton (1999) has called for governments to address the issue.
He said: “The governments have to do something. People have to be taught that racism is bad. Societies have to. Football can change people’s opinion of people that has a different colour.
“Until we tackle it in life and in society, it will still happen in football,” he added.
THE PENINSULA
